Breast-shield.



M. A. MATTSON.

BREAST SHIELD.

APPLICATION FILED JULY s, 1913.

1 ,094,1 58, Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

2 BHEE'I'Sw-SHBET 1.

I Fay. 1

M. A. MATTSON.

BREAST SHIELD.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1913.

1 094 158 Patented Apr. 21, 1914. a 2 SHBETSSHEET 2.

W/T/l/ESSL'S: l/V VEW 7' 0/7 J'Taxya re 29A. Na Z'tsom MARGARET A.MA'rrsoN, 0F COLLINGSWOOD, miwqpnsny.

BREAST-SHIELD.

Specification of Letters Patent. fatented Apr. 21,1914.

Application filed July 8, 1913. Serial No. 777,818.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARGARET A. MATT- soN, a citizen of the UnitedStates residing at Collingswood, in the county, of Camden and State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBreast-Shields, of which the following is a specification. I I 1 Theobject'of my invention is to rovide a novel, sim 1e and eflicientbreastfl'shleld for nursing moters, which may be'held in place withoutdifliculty and which'may be worn with ease and comfort and whichwillabsorb the milk discharged from'the breast of the wearer, as will behereinafter fully described and particularly claimed.

' In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention: Figure 1, isa perspective view of my improved breast shield. Fig.2, is a view of theforward portion of the belt and parts carried thereby as seen from theinside of the belt. Fig. 3, is a horizontal section through the partsshown in Fig. 2,'on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is a view of a modifiedform of parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5, is a vertical section, on line5-5 of Fi 1.

Iteferring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the drawings, 2 designates a beltadapted to extend around the body of the wearer. The

ends of the belt 2 terminate in elastic portions 4 and 6; andthe'elastic portion 4 is provided with a suitable buckle 7 adapted toengage the elastic portion 6 in any suitable position, as the belt isadjusted to properly fit the body of the wearer.

To prevent accidental downward displacement of the belt 2, I provide thesame with shoulder straps 8 having their rearward ends secured to therearward portion of the belt 2 and having their forward ends adjustablyattached to the forward portion of the belt 2 by means of suitablebuckles 9. These straps 8 are adapted to extend over the shoulders ofthe wearer and to be adjusted on the buckles 9 to fit the wearer.

In front of the forward portion of the belt 2 is an elongatedhorizontally-extending pouch 10 having a forward wall 11 and a rearwardwall 12, each formed of waterproof fabric-or other suitable flexiblematerial which will hold liquid.

The end and bottom edges of the walls 11 and 12 outwardly of and belowthe points 13 and 14 are secured together and the upper portions of thefront and back walls 11 and'12 are open between the points 13 and 14."This opening in'the topof the pouch is closed bya flap "15 forming acontinuation of the rearward wall 12 a1'id extending down in front ofthe forward wall 11. The closing flap 15 is held normally in theposition shown against the front wall 11. by means of suitable buttons16. In the present embodiment of my invention, 1' secure the end andbottom edges of the front and back walls 11 and 12. together by means ofa binding strip 17 which embraces the edges of the fabric forming thewalls 11 and 12 and; extends from the point 13 around the ends'andbottomof the pouch to the point 14 and i s'sewed to the fabric forming thewalls by'a line of stitching 18-. .I also sew a binding strip 19 aroundthe free edge of the flap 15.

The forward portion of the belt 2 is provid'ed with two spaced andsuitably located openings '20-adapted to receive the breast nipples ofthe wearer; and the rearward wall 12 of the pouch 10 is provided with"two similar openings 21in registry with the openings 20, so that whenthe belt is properly placed around the body of the wearer,

the breast nipples may project through the openings 20. and 21 to theinterior of the pouch 10. The edges of the fabric forming the rearwardwall 12 around the openings 21 therein is secured to the edges of thefabric forming the belt 2 around the openings 20; and, as a suitablemeans for this purpose, Iprovide binding strips 22 which extend aroundthe edges of the fabric forming the openings 20 and 21 and which embracethe said edges and which are sewed to the fabric of the .wall 12 and thefabric of the belt 2 by lines of stitching 23.

WVithin the pouch 10 is located a layer or layers of absorbent material24 which extends from top to-bottom and from end to end of the pouch andacross the openings 20 and 21, so that when the device is applied to thewearer the ends of thebreast nipples may come .into contact with theabsorbent material 24 to permit the material 24: to absorb thedischarged milk.

The pouch 10 is secured to the belt to be supported thereby only aroundthe openings 20 and 21, all other portions of both the forward wall 11and rearward wall 12 of the pouch being free to move relatively to thebelt. This is an important feature of my invention, as it enables me tohold the belt comparatively firm upon the body of the wearer to retainthe openings and 21 in proper registry with the breast nipples, and, atthe same time, it permits free adjustment of the pouch relatively to thebelt, under the influence of the'movements of the body of the wearerrelatively to the clothing, 'between which and the body of the wearerthe pouch is located. This is particularly true when corsets are wornand the pouch tion of the bottom of the pouch 10, forming,

s in effect, two communicating pockets for the absorbent material. Thisform of the invention may be found desirable when clothing and otherconditions require it. I

I claim:

1. In a breast shield, a belt adapted to ex- I tend around the body ofthe wearer and" having spaced nipple-receivingopenings in the forwardportion thereof, a pouch extending horizontally across the space betweenthe belt openings and having nipplereceiving openings therein inregistry with the belt openings, means for attaching the belt to thepouch, and absorbent material within the pouch and extending from aposition infront of one of said openings in the pouch to a position infront of the other of said openings in the ouch.

2. In a breast shiel a belt adapted to extend around the body of thewearer and having spaced nipple-receiving openings in the forwardportion thereof, a pouch having a rear wall extending horizontallyacross the space between the belt openings and having nipple-receivingopenings therein in registry with the belt openings, means for attachingthe edges of said rear wall around the openings therein to the edges ofthe belt around the openings therein, and absorbent material within theouch.

3. In a breast shield, a belt adapted to extend around the body of thewearer and having spaced nipple-receiving openings in the forwardportion thereof, a pouch having a rear wall extending horizontallyacross the space between the belt openings and having nipple-receivingopenings therein in registry with the belt openings, binding stripsextending around and embracing the edges of said rear wall and said beltaround the openings therein and stitched thereto, and

absorbent material within the pouch.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARGARET A. MATTSON.

Witnesses A. V. GROUPE, WM. HARRISON SMITH.

